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CSA agree to split tour of Sri Lanka

The Test series between Sri Lanka and South Africa will now take place in June/July, 2015.

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa have accepted Sri Lanka's request to split the Proteas' tour of the island nation next year. The Test series will now take place in June/July, 2015. The Proteas will still fulfil their obligation to play five ODIs and three T20 International matches in 2013.

"We have acceded to the request for two reasons. In the first place we have a very good relationship with Sri Lanka Cricket and we have done our best to assist them," said CSA Acting CEO Jacques Faul. In the second place, it actually works out quite well for the Proteas in handling their workload effectively. Had we proceeded with the Test series in Sri Lanka next year it would have meant that the Proteas would have played 11 Test matches between July, 2013, and March, 2014," he explained.

"In addition, they would have had no break between the start of the ICC Champions Trophy on May 27, 2013, and the end of the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh in April, 2014," he added.

The re-scheduling of the Test series means that the Proteas will now have a three-week break between the Champions Trophy and the limited overs series in Sri Lanka.

"The matter has been discussed with the Proteas team management as well and it has been agreed that this is the best way forward both for CSA and Sri Lanka Cricket," Faul said.

The Proteas will now undertake their Test tour of Sri Lanka in June, 2015 before they move on to Bangladesh in July as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme.

"I would like to stress that there was never ever any question of the Test series against Sri Lanka not happening. The status of Test cricket is paramount as far as we are concerned. We retain the same number of Tests as far as the (FTP) is concerned until 2019/2020," concluded Faul.